Florida Panthers just snatched a nail-biting W, but hold up—what about Sam Bennett? That’s the question buzzing through the fanbase after a thrilling showdown at the Amerant Bank Arena. Sam Reinhart was an absolute menace on the ice, dropping two goals, while Aleksander Barkov flexed in the shootout with the lone dagger that sealed the deal. And let’s not forget Sergei Bobrovsky, who stood tall when it mattered most, shutting down all three Penguins’ attempts. Despite Pittsburgh’s early dominance and a heated-up performance from Bryan Rust and Evgeni Malkin, the Panthers clawed their way back to the third, thanks to Anton Lundell’s equalizer.
Florida’s comeback win keeps them sitting pretty atop the Atlantic Division, holding off Toronto by a slim margin. But even with the victory party in full swing, fans couldn’t ignore the elephant in the room—where was Sam Bennett in overtime? The gritty forward was nowhere to be seen when things got dicey, leaving everyone on the edge. And just like that, all eyes are on Coach Maurice, who’s now stepping in to clear up the mystery behind Sam Bennett’s absence.
Coach gives an update on Sam Bennett’s absence!
When the question popped up about Sam Bennett missing OT, Panthers’ head coach Paul Maurice had the perfect no-stress response. In a video shared by Florida Hockey Now, a journalist asked, “Sam Bennett didn’t play in the overtime after taking the puck. Is he doing all right?” And Maurice? He didn’t hesitate. “He’s going to be fine. Mikko’s going to be fine. It’s going to take a couple of days.” No drama, no panic—just another day in the rough-and-tumble world of hockey. The biggest proof? “Sam’s on the bike now, so he’s 100%.” If the guy’s already pedaling away, you know he’s shaking it off just fine.
As for why Sam Bennett didn’t hit the ice in OT, it all came down to how he felt in the moment. Maurice explained, “It’s just some bruising that Sam just didn’t feel he had enough, put enough pressure on it to come out and skate the way he would need to at the end of that game and into overtime.” So, no major setbacks—just a call Bennett made for the sake of playing it smart. Maurice wrapped it all up with a final reassurance: “They’re both good.” So, for anyone holding their breath—yeah, you can exhale now.
Wondering what happened? Well, Florida’s own Sam Bennett took a hit—literally—blocking a shot in the third. But did that stop him? Nope. He dusted himself off, jumped back in, and squeezed in two shifts before things took a turn. When overtime rolled around, though, he was nowhere to be seen on the ice. A little concerning? Absolutely. But hey, sometimes even the toughest of the lot need a breather! And the coach has already aired it all out! And guess what? Some other stars are injured too, and the coach gave an update for them too!
Paul Maurice gives an update of other injured players!
Florida Panthers’ head coach Paul Maurice dropped the latest injury updates last week, and it’s a mixed bag of news for fans. Dmitry Kulikov, who took a hit in last Sunday’s showdown against the Islanders, is looking at some time off with an upper-body injury. But don’t panic—he’s expected back before the playoffs. “We’ll list him as week-to-week, upper-body,” Maurice said. “We expect him to play before the end of the regular season.” To fill the gap, the Panthers called up defenseman Toby Bjornfot, and Maurice couldn’t be happier. “It’s nice to bring up a guy whom everybody knows,” he said, emphasizing that Bjornfot’s solid game makes him a reliable piece of the puzzle.
Meanwhile, Brad Marchand—yeah, the guy who landed in Florida in that wild trade-deadline move—remains on schedule with his recovery and could be back as early as April 8. Now, the big question—what about Matthew Tkachuk? Well, he’s still parked on long-term injured reserve, meaning he’s out until the playoffs unless another player lands on LTIR. Maurice didn’t sugarcoat it, saying, “They are all right where they’re supposed to be. They’re trending to the original idea.” So yeah, Panthers fans, patience is key. The squad is holding strong, and the reinforcements are on their way—just in time for the games that really matter.
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